COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 231, 24 June 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES l MANAWATU After a long dry spell the weather in the Palmerston and Manawatiu district generally appears to liave broken completely and -wintry conditions now prevail.. Heavy showers fell at the ■'weekend and throughout Monday morning. Very heavy rain also set in on Monday night. TJp to noon yesterday 31 points of rain had fallen at Palmerston North. Tho preliminary operations in connection with the new Girls' High School building in Fitzherbert Street, Falnierston North, are now well on tho ray, a number of workmen being employed in making excavations for sewers and foundations. In connection with the recent purchase by the Lands Department of the late Mr. D. Buick's property at Palmorston it is authoritatively imported that the Department does not propose to cut up tho, while of the property into live-acro sections,, only a portion of the front, which is exceptionally dry, and which it if anticipated will be taken up immediately. Tho balance of the land will be in 3fl to 35-acre sections. The M'Kenzie Block, one of tho richest pieces of land in lOiirangftj is being cut Tip intd 32acre blocks, nnd the Department will commence the nccessnry survey immediately. A large number of inquiries are already toeing mado by soldiers for the land. Mr. J. Rennie, of the Palmerston railway, staff, and a well-known violinist, has been transferred to New Plymouth, and left to take his new duties on Saturday. Mr. R. Kemp, who has been on the stall' for the past twenty-one months, is also under transfer, and goes to Ilawera. The death has occurred at Mat ton nf Mr. J. I?. Sicely, who had resided in the district for many years. Mr. Sicely. who was 71 years of age, had served many terms as a member of the Borough Council, and had also held the position of Mayor of Marton. . Mr. J. B. Hogg, headmaster of tho Carnarvon School, has been awarded a New Zealand Expeditionary Force scholarship in Great Britain. Mr. Hogg, who has been on active service, will leavo for the Old Country at an early date. •' Private S. G. Northey, accountant for Messrs. C. F. Spooner and Co., of Palmerston North, will return'by tho Ki goma, duo about July 15. [While Mrs. Pemberton, of Ashhurst, accompanied by her sister (Miss Moore) and her daughter (Miss Pemberton), was returning to Ashhurst from Pnlmarsten North last week in her 'dogcart, she lmd, tho misfortune to collide with a motorcar. The ladies wero thrown out, nnd Mrs. and Miss Pemberton were f.overelj shaken, and Miss Moore, who was thrown under the trap wheel, was severely bruised. The occupants of the car im< .mediately pulled up and rendered as* sistance. The death is reported from Ashhurst of a very old pioneer in tho person of Mr. David Hughey. Deceased was one of the settler* who pioneered the Foxton Block. A movement, is on foot in Levin to start a Y.M.C.A. branch. A meeting has been called for this week, when Mr. Varney, Y.M.C.A. secretary, intends addressing the gathering on the matter. Mr. Boultbee, chemist at Levin for n number of years,, who has not been in the best of health for some time past, has disposed of his business and shortly will leave for a warmer climate. Mr. W. Mu.rdoch, Mayor of Shannon, intends contesting the Palmerston election in the interests of Independent La'b. our. ,